Wista metal field rise fall problem

[michael_schlansker]

I purchased a used Wista metal field that was advertised as a Wista VX. The

camera just says "Wista 45" and may be an earlier model. The purchase was ok

except for one annoying problem.

 

The rise-fall adjustment on the front standard is controlled by pinion gears

that interface with two racks. Two knobs on either side seem to have fixed

attachment to a common shaft that adjusts rise & fall. When a heavier lens is

installed, this adjustment always falls to the bottom position. There does not

seem to be any way to tighten this adjustment to prevent slippage.

 

There is a collar, on the left hand side looking back to front, and on the

rise/fall shaft. This collar may relate to tightening rise/fall, but the

collar is hard to access and there does not seem to be an easy way to tighten

rise/fall.

 

After elevating a heavy lens, how can I keep it from falling to the bottom?

What is the correct way to operate this control?

 

 

Thanks for any help.

 

Mike Schlansker

[robert_ley]

Michael- My Wista VX also has "Wista 45" on the bottom front standard. As you face the front of the camera, the knob on the left raises the lens standard and the knob on the right tightens the standard to hold it in place. My wista is well used and is still fairly stiff and the rise works very well and tightens securely. So when I am behind the lens and operating the rise, my right hand controls the rise and my left controls the tightening. I don't know what lenses you are using, but my 210 Symmar-S is kind of a load and will not drop by itself even w/o tightening the locking knob. Hope this helps.

[todd_phillips1]

I'll ditto what Robert says....I just purchased the original Wista model (it looks exactly like an SP but is only marked Wista) and I love it. The rise will tighten on the left control. This camera is built like a tank!

 

Now I haven't tried a "large" lens with it, but I don't see it moving the rise at all.

 

Enjoy you new camera!!

 

And if anyone has an extra Wista lensboard to sell, I need one. I have a favorite 135mm wide field Ektar that needs a board and I will probably have to widen a Copal 1 board to use it!

[tito sobrinho]

What Robert said!

 

My Wista SP which I bought 20 years ago, says "Wista 45" but, the front standard does not have front swing (horizontal rotation). Excellent to carry around. For accessories, I have the bag bellows and the extension tubes to be used with longer focal lenses.

 

Todd, since the Wista board is a Linhof copy, you can use any of their clones. All my LF lenses are mounted on a Linhof, Wista and or Tachihara boards.